Just curious?

[Grantspastor]

How many of you drift boaters fish for summer steelhad (or winter fish...if the water is warm enough)...using flies...fished the same way you fish plugs (just using a fly rod and fly line)

It's a long standing Rogue River technique...and I've used it with great success on many other rivers like the N. Umpqua and McKenzie. Over the years it has accounted for hundreds...and it sure is a lot of fun. They take the fly so hard that it scares you the first few times. In warmer water temperatures when the fish are more active it has produced some of the fastest paced fishing I've had.

[TideRunner]

so is the fly on the surface then?

[Salmonslayer2]

I have never tried that. What type of flies do you use? Any other information that would be helpful.
Thanks Larry

[MarlinMark]

Well Grantspastor sounds like you opened up a whole can of flies, so to speak. You'll have to expain the benefits of the double shanked fly hook to keep the fly upright and all that stuff. :grin:

Seriously, this is a great topic. Can you imagine the aluminum traffic jams on the Deschutes if it was legal to fish from a floating craft?

Take Care,

Mark

[Straydog]

Grantspastor and Marlin,

Boy, you brought back some memories!

When I worked at Milos Sporting Goods just before it closed we sold those double shank steelhead flies by the dozens. Rogue River Special, Red Ant, Coachman and Silver Hiltons all were top producers.

I bet Jerry James still ties some of the best in the country and Don Dillingham probably still catches more fish than most on his single piece 9 footer that he tied to the top of his car! :smile:

It is interesting in that I have worked in Sporting Goods stores in Medford, White City and Grants Pass as well as worked in literally hundreds of stores or departments stretching from Albany, Oregon all the way to Ft. Bragg, Cal. and Elko, Nevada and only at Milo's in GP were those flies an issue. :whazzup:

[ 12-10-2002, 07:42 AM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

[RogueFishr]

StrayDog,
you mentioning Milo's brought back memories. :grin: I used to go in there as a little kid.
I thought everyone fished flies like that for summers! Always have good luck here using Red Ants and Green Butted Skunks.

RF

[Grantspastor]

Didn't post this in the flies section because I don't exclusively fish for steelhead with flies. I like all the legitimate methods and techniques.

I'll try to answer the above questions.

Tiderunner: The fly is usually just below the surface...sometimes it will even skate on the surface if the water flow is heavier. Fish will come up from 5-10 feet to take it. On the Rogue I tie my flies on small (size 10) double hooks. I like the double hooks for several reasons...but mostly because in that small size and with a turned down eye they will tend to stay under the surface film a little better. On most other rivers I don't use double hooks and go to a larger size fly. Why? Mostly tradition.

Salmonslayer2: I use a floating line...9' leader...on the Rogue a 5 weight rod...on other rivers usually an 8 weight. The technique is very simple...lay the line out on the water in front of the boat and fish just like you fish with plugs. Many fly patterns work. It's mostly just putting it in the right spot. Probably 80% of several hundred Rogue fish have come on a size 10 double hook red ant.
On the Mckenzie and N. Umpqua my best producer has been a size 6 green-butt skunk. I used to tie and carry several boxes of flies. These days I pretty much use those two flies

It's an easy way to get non-experienced people hooked up to fish. All they have to do is hold the rod. I took two small kids from my church fishing this fall and they both caught very nice fish.

Straydog: "Memories" for sure! I believe Jerry James is still tying some of the best. Don Dillingham and another man named Clarence Goodwin were very helpful to me in my "youth"
I miss Milo's...